ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — A prosecutor in Ohio is pushing for the dismissal, at least temporarily, of charges against a Black truck driver who was bitten by a police dog while surrendering along a highway last month. Jadarrius Rose, 23, of Memphis, Tennessee, required hospital treatment after the incident that took place during his arrest on July 4 near Circleville. The events were recorded by police body cameras, revealing unsettling scenes of the incident.
Circleville Police Officer Ryan Speakman allowed the police dog to maul Rose while he was on his knees with his hands raised in the air, even as state troopers pleaded for Speakman to restrain the animal. Following public outrage, Speakman was first placed on leave and then subsequently fired from the Circleville force after the agency found that he had failed to meet their standards and expectations for police officers for “crying” too much on the job and gossiping.
In a recent development, attorney Jeffrey C. Marks filed a motion before Judge Michael Ater requesting the dismissal of charges against Rose. Marks argued that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rose’s operation of his truck posed a substantial risk of serious physical harm to people or property. Marks emphasized the term “substantial” and suggested that some charges might be refiled later if deemed appropriate.
Upon reviewing the footage and police reports, Marks concluded that it was a mistake to charge Rose with fleeing after committing a felony. He noted in the motion that there was no evidence suggesting that Rose was fleeing immediately after committing a felony on July 4.
The motion further requests that the case be dismissed while the Chillicothe Law Director’s Office reviews the results of the investigation to determine if misdemeanor charges are applicable. If warranted, prosecutors could potentially restart the case. The decision on this request remains pending before Judge Ater.
The incident that led to Rose’s arrest reportedly began when police attempted to stop his truck on Ohio Route 35 due to a missing mudflap. Police allege that Rose initially refused to exit the truck and subsequently defied instructions to lie on the ground. Audio recordings reveal that during the dog attack, Rose pleaded for the officers to remove the dog, expressing visible pain.
Rose’s statements to a 911 dispatcher shed light on his perspective. He claimed that the officers pursuing him were “trying to kill” him, expressing a lack of safety in pulling over. He also expressed confusion about the officers’ actions, including the use of drawn firearms.
While Speakman’s firing garnered support from the Circleville agency, his union, the Ohio Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, has filed a grievance challenging the termination, asserting that there were insufficient grounds for his dismissal.
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